Wire tie

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a tie for wrapping around an article, including an arcuate portion on a first portion of the tie; and a movable locking device on a second portion of the tie, the movable locking device adapted to couple to the arcuate portion.

BACKGROUND

Cable ties have long been used to bundle a variety of objects such aselectrical wires or cable. Early examples of such cable ties are shownin U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,186,047 and 3,486,201. Each of these cable tiesincludes an elongate member having a head at one end, a tail at theother and an intervening longitudinal strap body. The cable tie is usedby wrapping the tie around a bundle of articles and inserting the tailthrough the head. The head and the body include cooperative lockingelements so that when the tail is pulled tightly through the head, thelocking elements secure the strap body in the head.

Cable ties come in various shapes and sizes. Often, multiple small cableties are employed at spaced locations longitudinally along the bundle ofwires. Such use can present at least one distinct problem.

Given the small size of the cable tie, it is difficult to grasp the tailand to pass it through the head. There is a tendency for the tail toslip out from between the fingers of the installer making it difficultto secure around the bundle.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a tie for wrapping around an article,including an arcuate portion at a first portion of the tie; and amovable locking means at a second portion of the tie, the movablelocking means adapted to couple to the arcuate portion.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a tie forwrapping around at least one article, including a body portion having afirst end and a second end, a locking means at the second end, thelocking means movable relative to the body portion and configured toengage the body portion, and an arcuate portion at the first end adaptedto engage the locking means, such that the tie forms a substantiallyclosed loop around the at least one article.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method ofwrapping at least one article, including the steps of providing a tiehaving body with a first end and a second end, the tie having an arcuateportion at the first end and a locking means at the second end, wrappingthe tie around the at least one article, engaging a portion of thearcuate portion with the locking means, and moving the locking meansrelative to the body.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a tie according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in section of a ratchet system according to oneembodiment using

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the tie of FIG. 1 wherein the loopis engaging the ratchet system; and

FIG. 4 is a partial side view in section of the tie of FIG. 1 whereinthe loop is engaging the ratchet system and the tie is substantiallyenclosing a plurality of elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a tie 10 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. Preferably, tie 10 includes an elongate portion 12, a loop 14and a ratchet system or locking means 16.

Preferably the tie is a unitarily molded structure, formed from aplastic, such as nylon; however, the tie and/or any portion can bemolded or formed from any suitable material. For example, the tie can beformed from any suitable plastic, metal or other suitable substance orcombination of substances. The various portions of the tie can also beformed from the same or separate materials. Furthermore, the tie is notnecessarily unitarily molded and can be formed in any suitable manner.

The elongate or body portion 12 is generally rectangular in crosssection but can have any suitable cross section. The body portion 12 hasa first end 18 and a second 20 and a central portion 22. At or generallynear the second end 20 one side of the body portion 12 has indentations24 or any other suitable structure thereon. The indentations 24 canextend at any desirable length along the body portion 12 up to anincluding loop 14. If desired, the body portion can have a similar orthe same structure as indentations 24 located on any side or multiplesides thereof.

Loop 14 preferably is a semi-flexible structure that is molded with thebody portion; however, loop 14 can be attached in a separate formationstep at any suitable time. Additionally, it is not necessary for loop 14to be a complete loop, it can be a substantially complete loop or simplyan arcuate member (i.e., a hook) that would allow engagement with adevice such as the ratchet system or a portion thereof.

Loop 14 can be any desired size. Loop 14 can be just large enough toallow the locking mechanism to pass through and engage therewith or itcan be the entire tie itself. For example, if desired the loop 14 canextend from the first end to the second end and include the elongateportion. In this embodiment, one or both portions of the loop thatpassed through the locking means could have indentations thereon.

Locking member 16 is preferably a ratchet system, but can be anysuitable one way or substantially one way ratcheting device. Forexample, the locking member can be a threaded device that is moved inone direction or any other suitable structure that would allow thelocking means 16 to move in one direction (preferably away from thesecond end) and resist or substantially resist movement in the oppositeor a second direction (preferably towards the second end).

As shown in FIG. 2, locking member 16 preferably has a substantiallyrectangular configuration with a first side 26, a second side 28 a topsurface 30 and a bottom surface 32. Extending through the locking memberfrom the first side to the second side is a pathway 34 that defines afirst opening 36 and a second opening 38 in the first and second sides,respectively. A protrusion 39 extends into the pathway and is adapted toengage the indentations in the body portion of the tie. It is noted thatsuch a protrusion/indentation locking means is exemplary only and thelocking means can be any structure desired, including but not limited toa protrusion with a sharp end that is capable of coupling to the tiewithout indentations.

First side 26 preferably has an indentation or recess therein to allowthe loop to fit therein; however all the sides and surfaces of thelocking means can have any suitable configuration. Extending from topsurface 30 is a hook, hooks or protrusion 40. Hook 40 extends outwardlyfrom top surface 30 then doubles back at an acute angle toward bottomsurface 32 and first side 26. It is noted hook 40 can have any suitableconfiguration and extend in any suitable direction and may extend fromany suitable side or surface or may not even exist, as desired.

Operation

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tie can be positioned to encircle orsurround a single element or a plurality of elements 42 (such as a groupof wires). The ratchet or locking means can be “preloaded” or positionedat or near the second end of the tie. An installer now has a largetarget (i.e., the loop) through which he can pass the tie end (i.e., thelocking means). This speeds along the installation and allows a greaterease of single handed installation. The prior art difficult ratchetloading can be now done by the tie manufacturer or by the installerbefore he offers the tie up to the object(s) to be secured.

Furthermore, the loop can be squeezed to pass the tie through saddleclips that are sometimes used to secure the tie and object(s) to asurface. After the loop has been passed through the saddle the loopnaturally expands to its original shape thus inhibiting the loose tiefrom falling back out of the saddle which can occur with existing ties.

If desired, the tie 10 can be partially tightened but temporallyreleased again by unhooking the loop from the hook. This is extremelyuseful when securing wiring bundles that need to temporary held beforeadditional wires are to be added to the bundle.

Additionally, tie 10 can be designed so that the ratchet block can beslipped all the way down the toothed strip and over the loop at the farend to be free from the tie. This allows the tie to be reused byreloading it onto the other end of the strip.

Furthermore, tie 10 eliminates a protrusion after installation becausethe long free end exits the block at a tangent to the secured objects,so it lies flat when cut off and the sharp edge does not stick out.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

1. A tie for wrapping around an article, comprising: an arcuate portionat a first portion of the tie; and a movable locking means at a secondportion of the tie, the movable locking means adapted to couple to thearcuate portion.
 2. A tie according to claim 1, wherein the arcuateportion is an enclosed loop.
 3. A tie according to claim 1, wherein themovable locking means is a ratchet system.
 4. A tie according to claim1, further comprising a body, the arcuate portion located at a first endof said body and the movable locking means located at a second end ofsaid body.
 5. A tie according to claim 4, wherein the body includes aplurality of indentations, and the locking means includes at least oneprotrusion adapted to engage at least one of said plurality ofindentations.
 6. A tie according to claim 4, wherein said locking meansis configured to be movable toward the first end and not toward thesecond end.
 7. A tie according to claim 1, wherein the locking meansincludes a protrusion adapted to engage a portion of the tie.
 8. A tieaccording to claim 1, wherein the locking means includes a hookconfigured to prevent the arcuate portion from decoupling from thelocking means.
 9. A tie for wrapping around at least one article,comprising: a body portion having a first end and a second end; alocking means at the second end, said locking means movable relative tothe body portion and configured to engage the body portion; and anarcuate portion at the first end adapted to engage the locking means,such that said tie forms a substantially closed loop around the at leastone article.
 10. A tie according to claim 9, wherein the arcuate portionis an enclosed loop.
 11. A tie according to claim 10, wherein themovable locking means is a ratchet system.
 12. A tie according to claim11, wherein the locking means includes a hook configured to prevent theenclosed loop from disengage from the locking means.
 13. A tie accordingto claim 9, wherein the body includes a plurality of indentations, andthe locking means includes at least one protrusion adapted to engage atleast one of said plurality of indentations.
 14. A tie according toclaim 9, wherein said locking means is configured to be movable towardthe first end and not toward said second end.
 15. A tie according toclaim 9, wherein the locking means includes a protrusion adapted toengage a portion of the tie.
 16. A method of wrapping at least onearticle, comprising the steps of providing a tie having body with afirst end and a second end, the tie having an arcuate portion at thefirst end and a locking means at the second end, wrapping the tie aroundthe at least one article, engaging a portion of the arcuate portion withthe locking means, and moving the locking means relative to the body.17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the arcuate portion is anenclosed loop, and the locking means is a ratchet system.
 18. A methodaccording to claim 17, further comprising the step passing the ratchetsystem through the enclosed loop prior to the step of moving the lockingmeans relative to the body.
 19. A tie according to claim 16, wherein thelocking means includes a hook configured to prevent the enclosed loopfrom disengage from the locking means.
 20. A tie according to claim 16,wherein the step of moving the locking means includes pulling the secondend.